Package wrapping machine with self-centering film support system

ABSTRACT

A wrapping or other packaging machine includes a support for rolled film or other media and roll edge guides with an associated adjustment system adapted to facilitate proper positioning of different widths of rolled media on the support.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to machines used to wrap items such as trayed food products, and more particularly to a machine that pulls a wrapping medium, such as plastic film, off of a roll in order to wrap such items and that includes a roll support adapted for positioning multiple different widths of film in an appropriate position.

BACKGROUND

Food product wrapping machines typically feed a trayed food product or package, such a ground meat or produce, to a wrap station at which a film is drawn out over the trayed food package, wrapped around the package, and passed to a heat sealing station. Machines capable of handling different widths of rolled wrap film have been provided in the past. It would be desirable to provide a user friendly system for achieving proper lateral positioning of rolled wrap film relative to the wrap station.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a packaging machine for applying media from a roll to products includes a station where media is applied to a product and a support for holding any one of multiple widths of rolled media, the support located to permit media to be drawn into the station. A first roll edge guide and a second roll edge guide are positioned for facilitating contact with respective side edges of rolled media held on the support. A roll edge guide adjustment system is linked with the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide for selectively moving the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide either toward or away from each other such that a center point between the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide remains substantially stationary regardless of a distance between the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide.

In the foregoing aspect the roll edge guide adjustment system may operate to cause the first roll edge guide and second roll edge guide to contact respective side edges of rolled media held on the support and to move the rolled media so as to locate a center point of the rolled media at a set location.

In another aspect, in a packaging machine including a station where film is applied to an item, the film dispensed from rolled film located on an elongated support, a method for locating rolled film at a set location along the support involves: providing a first edge guide; providing a second edge guide; linking the first edge guide and second edge guide such that the first and second edge guides are selectively movable either (i) simultaneously toward each other or (ii) simultaneously away from each other; simultaneously moving the first edge guide and second edge guide away from each other such that a distance between the first edge guide and second edge guide is greater than a side edge to side edge distance of a rolled wrap film; loading the rolled film onto the support; and simultaneously moving the first edge guide and second edge guide toward each other until the first edge guide contacts one side edge of the rolled wrap film and the second edge guide contacts an opposite side edge of the rolled film.

Other aspects are also provided herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of one embodiment of a package wrapping machine;

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a rolled wrap film support and associated positioning system;

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment, in partially exploded view, of a rolled wrap film support and associated positioning system; and

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a file support with associated positioning system;

FIG. 5 is a partial illustration of a motor driven embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a partial illustration of a dual rod, dual motor embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,787, which discloses an exemplary food product package wrapping machine that wraps meat, produce, or the like, in stretchable, heat-sealable film, an exemplary view of which is seen in FIG. 1 of the present application. Generally, a package 102 is fed into the machine 100 at an infeed station 104 and is carried along a package entryway 110 by a pusher 108 or other conveying mechanism to an elevator 118. A raised position of the elevator 118 may at least partially define a wrap station 106. Before or when the package 102 reaches the wrap station 106, a film gripper 112 and side-clamps 116 cooperate to draw an appropriate amount of film from a source of rolled wrap film 111 B out over the wrap station 106 and to stretch the film in a desired manner. The elevator 118 then moves the package 102 up through a plane of the stretched film and the film is wrapped around the package 102, making use of side underfolders 128. A hold down arm 120 stabilizes the package 102 while it is being wrapped. Package pusher 130 moves the package out of the wrap station. Finally, a heat sealing conveyor 132 receives and seals the wrapped film around the package 102 and brings the package 102 to a weigh station 134. Other wrapping machine variations having different wrapping station configurations could also be utilized.

Referring now to FIG. 2, one embodiment of a rolled wrap film support and associated rolled wrap film positioning system useful in connection with food product wrapping machines is now described. A wrap station where wrap media, such as wrap film, is wrapped around a product is illustrated diagrammatically as the dashed line enclosed area 10. As previously noted, the exact configuration of the wrapping machine structure associated with the wrap station 10 can vary significantly. A support 12 is located to support rolled wrap film 14 at a location permitting wrap film to be drawn off the roll and into the wrap station 10 as needed for wrapping items such as trayed food products.

In the illustrated embodiment the support 12 is formed by a tubular member, or collection of end-to-end tubular members with a support shaft 16 (FIG. 3) at one end for location within a bearing box 18. In one embodiment (FIG. 3), the bearing box 18 includes a tubular extension for containing a cantilever type bearing system made up of bearings 20, 22 and bushing 24. The bearing box 18 is fixed to a frame or housing of the wrapping machine within which the wrap film support system is located. The support 12 is thereby maintained in a generally horizontal orientation, but is permitted to rotate as film is drawn off of the film roll 14.

A typical configuration of rolled wrap film 14 is illustrated in FIG. 2, with film 26 being continuously rolled upon a roll core 28, which may typically be formed of paperboard or fiberboard. However, the exact configuration of the rolled wrap film 14 could vary, and other rolled wrap media could be used. Notably, the support 12 is sized to carry any one of a plurality of widths of rolled wrap film, where the width of rolled wrap film is generally defined by the distance between side edges 30 and 32 of the rolled wrap film. The side edges 30 and 32 may defined by either the film 26 itself or the roll core 28 in any given application.

In the illustrated embodiment, an adjustment rod 34 extends within the tubular support 12 and includes two threaded regions 36 and 38 that are oppositely threaded (e.g., one region with right hand threads and the other region with left hand threads). A handle 40 is located at the end of the support and is connected for rotating the adjustment rod 34. Internally threaded guide nuts 42 and 44 are located internally of support 12, with each guide nut located in a respective one of the threaded regions 36 and 38. Guide nut 42 is linked to a roll edge guide 46, which is disposed about the tubular support 12 for movement therealong, and guide nut 44 is linked to a roll edge guide 48, which is likewise disposed about the tubular support for movement therealong. In particular, tubular support 12 includes a pair of diametrically opposed and axially extending slots 50 in proximity to threaded region 36, and a pair of diametrically opposed and axially extending slots 52 in proximity to threaded region 38. The roll edge guide 46 is linked to the guide nut 42 by interconnecting members, such as fasteners 54, extending through slots 50. Likewise, roll edge guide 48 is linked to guide nut 44 by interconnecting members, such as fasteners 56, extending through slots 52. Of course, other interconnecting members could be used, including portions of the guide nuts or edge guides themselves.

In operation, when handle 40 is rotated and tubular support 12 is prevented from rotating, the adjustment rod 34 rotates relative to the tubular support 12 causing the guide nuts 42 and 44 to move along the respective threaded regions 36 and 38. In particular, rotation of the handle 40 in one direction will cause the guide nuts 42 and 44 to move toward each other, and rotation of the handle 40 in an opposite direction will cause the guide nuts 42 and 44 to move away from each other. The thread size and pitch in each threaded region 36 and 38 is the same, but oriented oppositely, such that the guide nuts 42 and 44 each move the same distance. Because the guide nuts 42 and 44 are linked to the respective edge guides 46 and 48, the edge guides 46 and 48 move similarly to the guide nuts 42 and 44, with the slots 50 and 52 permitting the interconnecting members between the guide nuts and the edge guides to move along to the tubular support 12.

The edge guide 46 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes radially inwardly depressable ramped portions 60 with film roll edge engaging surfaces 62, and edge guide 48 is of similar construction. The ramped portions 60 are biased outward, as by a spring or springs. In an alternative embodiment, inwardly located edge guide 48′ (FIG. 3) does not include ramped portions, and is instead formed with an annular lip or rim 64 that includes circumferentially spaced side projections 66 oriented for securely contacting and holding rolled wrap film, and particularly for engaging the roll core of rolled wrap film to prevent relative rotation between the rolled wrap film and the tubular support and edge guides. In either embodiment, the support 12, edge guides 46 and 48, 48′, and rolled wrap film all rotate together as film is drawn off of the roll.

Regardless of the exact configuration of the edge guides, they are positioned on the support 12, and mechanically linked to the adjustment rod 34, such that a center point between roll edge guide 46 and roll edge guide 48 remains substantially stationary regardless of a distance between the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide. In one embodiment, a center point between the roll edge contacting parts of the two edge guides 46 and 48 is aligned with a center line 68 of the wrap station 10. Such a configuration allows for simple centering, or other set positioning, of rolled wrap film relative to the wrap station 10, regardless of the width of the rolled wrap film that is loaded onto the support 12.

In particular, when loading rolled wrap film onto the support 12, the handle 40 is first rotated in one direction to move the edge guides 46 and 48 apart by a distance greater than the width of the rolled wrap film. The rolled wrap film is then loaded onto the support 12 over the handle 40 and over the edge guide 46. As the rolled wrap film slides over the edge guide 46, ramped portions 60 are moved inwardly via interaction with the internal surface of the roll core 32. When the rolled wrap film is moved past the ramped portions 60, the ramped portions move outward due to their biases, placing the film roll edge engaging surfaces 62 into suitable position to contact the outwardly facing edge 30 of the rolled wrap film. The handle 40 is then rotated in the opposite direction to move the edge guides toward each other, with rotation of the handle continuing until both edge guides 46 and 48 come into contact with respective end edges 30 and 32 of the rolled wrap film. As a result of this operation the rolled wrap film will be moved by at least one of the edge guides, specifically the edge guide that first makes contact with a side edge of the rolled wrap film, into the set position so that the side edge to side edge center of the film 26 will be substantially centered on the wrap station center line 68 when the film is drawn into the wrap station. In a machine that includes structure for laterally centering the products to be wrapped, the film 26 will thereby also be centered relative to a width of the product being wrapped.

While the illustrated embodiment is described as providing centering of the rolled wrap film relative to the wrap station, it is recognized that in alternative embodiments other positioning could be achieved. For example, the center of the rolled wrap film could also be offset from the center of the wrap station by a certain amount as desired. In fact, the illustrated embodiment could be adjusted to achieve such position by changing the relative position of one of guide nuts 42 or 44, as by disconnecting guide nut 44 from edge guide 48, rotating the handle 40 so that guide nut 42 and edge guide 46 move while guide nut 44 and edge guide 48 remain stationary, and then reconnecting guide nut 44 with edge guide 48.

Further, while the illustrated embodiment provides adjustment rod 34 within the tubular support, it is recognized that in an alternative embodiment the adjustment rod might be positioned alongside the tubular support, with edge guides, such as fork-shaped edge guides 200, extending toward the tubular support, as per the schematic depiction in FIG. 4. In such a case the edge guide positioned toward the loading/unloading side of the support could be temporarily movable away from the support 12 as necessary for loading or unloading rolled wrap film. Moreover, while the illustrated embodiment depicts manual rotation of adjustment rod 34 via handle 40, it is recognized that an automated drive, such as a direct drive motor M, could be provided in place of handle 40, in which case the operator could simply depress a button or switch SW to cause movement of the edge guides, as per the schematic depiction of FIG. 5. Still further, while a single adjustment rod with oppositely threaded regions is illustrated, it is recognized that two separate adjustment rods R1 and R2 could be provided, as per the schematic depiction of FIG. 6. A mechanical link could be provided between the handle or drive and each rod R1 and R2, or a control could be used to achieve such simultaneous movement. For example, each adjustment rod could be driven by a respective direct drive motor as per FIG. 6, and the two direct drive motors could be connected to a common control 210 that causes simultaneous operation of the direct drive motors in the necessary manner. In the embodiments including two separate adjustment rods, the rods could be similarly threaded rather than oppositely threaded, with proper movement being achieved by effecting opposite rotation of the two rods.

Each of the above-described roll edge guide adjustment systems is linked with the respective roll edge guides in a manner to selectively move the roll edge guides either toward or away from each other such that a center point between the roll edge guides remains substantially stationary regardless of a distance between the roll edge guides.

It is to be clearly understood that the above description is intended by way of illustration and example only and is not intended to be taken by way of limitation. It is recognized that described film support systems would also have use in lidding-type packaging machines where the film is drawn out over a container and then sealed to the top of the container at a lidding station. As used in the following claims, the term “product” is intended to be broadly construed to cover any item run through a packaging machine for the application of a film or other media thereto. Other changes and modifications could be made. 

1. A packaging machine for applying film from a roll to products, the machine comprising: a station where film is applied to a product; a support for holding any one of multiple widths of rolled film, the support located to permit film to be drawn into the station; a first roll edge guide and a second roll edge guide, the first and second roll edge guides positioned for facilitating contact with respective side edges of rolled film held on the support; a roll edge guide adjustment system linked with the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide for selectively moving the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide either toward or away from each other such that a center point between the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide remains substantially stationary regardless of a distance between the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide, wherein the roll edge guide adjustment system operates to cause the first roll edge guide and second roll edge guide to contact respective side edges of rolled film held on the support and to move the rolled film so as to locate an edge to edge center of rolled film at a set location relative to the station.
 2. The machine of claim 1 wherein the set location is centered relative to the station.
 3. The machine of claim 1 wherein the set location is offset relative to a center of the station.
 4. The machine of claim 1 wherein the roll edge guide adjustment system is manually actuated.
 5. The machine of claim 1 wherein the roll edge guide adjustment system is powered.
 6. The machine of claim 1 wherein the roll edge guide adjustment system includes a rod having a first threaded region and a second threaded region, the first threaded region including left hand threads and the second threaded region including right hand threads, a first guide nut threaded on the first threaded region and linked to the first edge guide, a second guide nut threaded on the second threaded region and linked to the second edge guide, wherein rotation of the rod in one direction causes the first guide nut and second guide nut to move toward each other and rotation of the rod in an opposite direction causes the first guide nut and second guide nut to move away from each other.
 7. The machine of claim 6 wherein the support comprises a tubular member, the first roll edge guide and second roll edge guide are disposed about the tubular member, the rod extends through the tubular member along at least a portion of its length, and the tubular member includes at least one slot through which the first edge guide is linked to the first guide nut and at least one slot through which the second edge guide is linked to the second guide nut, the rod is rotatable within and relative to the tubular member.
 8. The machine of claim 7 wherein at least one of the edge guides includes an outwardly biased ramp portion over which film rolls can be slid, the ramp portion including a ramp side and a film roll contact side.
 9. The machine of claim 1 wherein the roll edge guide adjustment system includes a rod having a first threaded region and a second threaded region, the first threaded region including left hand threads and the second threaded region including right hand threads, the first edge guide linked to the first threaded region, the second edge guide linked to the second threaded region, wherein rotation of the rod in one direction causes the first edge guide and second edge guide to move toward each other and rotation of the rod in an opposite direction causes the first edge guide and second edge guide to move away from each other.
 10. The machine of claim 9 wherein a handle is connected with the rod to facilitate manual rotation of the rod.
 11. The machine of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first roll edge guide and second roll edge guide includes one or more protrusions for engaging a tubular core of rolled film so as to prevent slip between the support and rolled film located thereon.
 12. The machine of claim 9 wherein a motor is operatively connected with the rod for effecting rotation of the rod.
 13. The machine of claim 9 wherein the rod is positioned alongside the support.
 14. The machine of claim 9 wherein the support is a tubular member and the rod is positioned within the tubular member.
 15. The machine of claim 1 wherein the machine is one of (i) a package wrapping machine for wrapping film around products and the station is a wrap station and (ii) a lidding machine for apply film atop products and the station is a lidding station.
 16. A packaging machine for applying media from a media roll to packages, the machine comprising: a station where media is applied to a product; a support for holding any one of multiple widths of rolled media, the support located to permit media to be drawn into the station; a first roll edge guide and a second roll edge guide, the first and second roll edge guides including respective contact parts positioned for facilitating contact with respective side edges of rolled media held on the support; a roll edge guide adjustment system linked with the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide for selectively moving the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide either toward or away from each other such that a center point between the respective contact parts of the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide remains substantially stationary regardless of a distance between the first roll edge guide and the second roll edge guide.
 17. The machine of claim 16 wherein the roll edge guide adjustment system includes a single threaded rod with a first threaded region and a second threaded region, the first and second threaded regions oppositely threaded, a first guide nut located in the first threaded region and the second guide nut located in the second threaded region, the first guide nut linked with the first roll edge guide and the second guide nut linked with the second roll edge guide.
 18. The machine of claim 16 wherein the roll edge guide adjustment system includes a first threaded rod and a second threaded rod, a first guide nut disposed on the first threaded rod and a second guide nut disposed on the second threaded rod, the first guide nut linked to the first roll edge guide, the second guide nut linked to the second roll edge guide.
 19. The machine of claim 16 wherein the machine is a package wrapping machine for wrapping film around products and the station is a wrap station.
 20. The machine of claim 16 wherein the machine is a lidding machine for apply film atop products and the station is a lidding station.
 21. In a packaging machine including a station where film is applied to an item, the film dispensed from rolled film located on an elongated support, a method for locating rolled film at a set location along the support, the method comprising: providing a first edge guide; providing a second edge guide; linking the first edge guide and second edge guide such that the first and second edge guides are selectively movable either (i) simultaneously toward each other or (ii) simultaneously away from each other; simultaneously moving the first edge guide and second edge guide away from each other such that a distance between the first edge guide and second edge guide is greater than a side edge to side edge distance of a rolled film; loading the rolled film onto the support; simultaneously moving the first edge guide and second edge guide toward each other until the first edge guide contacts one side edge of the rolled film and the second edge guide contacts an opposite side edge of the rolled film.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the first edge guide is mechanically linked with the second edge guide.
 23. The method of claim 21 wherein the first edge guide is mechanically linked to the second edge guide at least in part by a threaded rod including first and second oppositely threaded regions.
 24. The method of claim 21 wherein the first edge guide and second edge guide are mechanically separate and linked via a control that causes simultaneous movement of the first and second edge guides. 